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Body found identified as Elizabeth Ennen

Lubbock police Tuesday positively identified the body of a young female found in northwest Lubbock County as that of 15-year-old Elizabeth Ennen, who had been missing for more than two weeks.

Police officials said the investigation led detectives to the body found shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday off County Road 1700 about 6 miles north of Clovis Highway.

The Lubbock County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the body was Elizabeth through fingerprint comparison and completed its autopsy, but it did not release the results or factors in Elizabeth’s death. More details are expected to become available today.

The Monterey High School student was reported missing Jan. 5 when she did not return home after baby-sitting for her boyfriend’s family.

Humberto Salinas Jr., the father of Elizabeth’s boyfriend, remained in the Lubbock County Jail on $250,000 bail for a first-degree aggravated kidnapping charge he received Friday in connection to Elizabeth’s disappearance. The 45-year-old, who had multiple charges for violent crimes in the past, could also face murder charges.

On Sunday, police led extensive searches in East Lubbock near the Carriage House motel, which was the last place the teen was seen alive, based on surveillance video footage of the night Elizabeth went missing obtained from the motel.

The Avalanche-Journal reported the video appeared to show Salinas forcing Elizabeth into the motel room, chasing her in the hallway and forcibly taking her to the south parking lot.

Prior to police confirmation of the positive identification of the body, the “Find Elizabeth Ennen — Missing from Texas” Facebook page had already publicized the information.

Dozens of people posted their condolences and prayers for the Ennen family on the Facebook page within the hour of the announcement.

Nancy Sharp, a spokeswoman for the Lubbock Independent School District, said in an e-mail the district expressed its “deepest sympathy” to the Ennens’ family and friends, and high school counselors have been “actively engaged in providing support to students and faculty since Elizabeth’s disappearance. Additional counseling resources will be available as the reality of this loss impacts our school community.”